- Ovarian cancer is the 5th most common cancer in women and the most common cause of gynecologic mortality, with an estimated 21,650 new cases and 15,520 deaths in the US in 2008.
- Risk factors include advancing age, infertility, endometriosis, talcum powder use, and genetic susceptibility. Protective factors include oral contraceptive use, parity, and tubal sterilization.
- Screening with transvaginal ultrasound and CA125 is recommended for high-risk women like those with BRCA mutations, but routine screening is not recommended for the general population due to low sensitivity of tests for early detection.